ASTRONOMY

Don't miss the Delta Aquariid meteor shower in late July.

The Delta Aquariid Meteor Shower Will Light Up Skies in July

The Delta Aquariid meteor shower peaks on July 29, 2022. Here's what you need to know to catch the summer spectacle.

June’s Strawberry Moon Will Light Up the Skies on Tuesday Morning

The strawberry moon (June's full moon) isn't pink as its name suggests, but it is the most colorful moon of the lunar calendar.

Blood moons are rare events, so catch it while you can.

There's a Total Blood Moon Eclipse Happening This Weekend—Here's How to See It

You can see a moon right out of a sci-fi novel. No special equipment needed.

11 Incredible Stargazing Spots to Visit This Summer

If you’re in pursuit of incredible stargazing, these destinations are worth the journey.

Which Way Does Earth Rotate (and Why)?

In a word, counterclockwise. But there’s a little more to the story of Earth’s rotation than that.

Don't Miss This Weekend's Black Moon Partial Solar Eclipse

The black moon at the end of April comes with a bonus spectacle: the first partial solar eclipse of 2022.

Wake Up Early This Month to See Venus, Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter Aligned in a Dazzling Display

In the last weeks of April, Venus, Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter will form a planetary quartet.

8 Facts About Pioneering Astronomer Caroline Herschel

Caroline Herschel was the first woman to discover a comet—and now there's a crater on the moon named after her.

You Can Catch a Glimpse of Venus at Its Brightest in February

Venus, also known as the morning star, will appear more dazzling than usual when it reaches peak brightness in early February 2022.

The Last Full Moon of 2021 Is Coming This Weekend—Here’s What To Know About the Cold Moon

Here's what you should know about 2021's full cold moon, include the meaning of the name and the best time to see it.

If You Can't View the Northern Lights in Person, Watch This Stunning 4K Video of the Aurora Borealis Over Russia

Viewing the northern lights in a 4K video isn't quite as impressive as seeing them in person, but it is much more convenient.

Heinz’s New Ketchup Was Made From Tomatoes Grown in a Mars-Like Greenhouse

Farming on Mars may not be as easy as it looks in 2015’s ‘The Martian,’ but a new Heinz ketchup suggests it might be possible.

Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images. Illustration: Justin Dodd/Mental Floss

The Only Total Solar Eclipse of 2021 Falls Over Antarctica in December

Eclipse-chasers will travel all the way to Antarctica to catch the next total solar eclipse on Saturday, December 4.

Three planets over the La Silla Observatory in Chile.

See Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter Align on Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving, star-gazers can be thankful for a trio of planets lining up in the night sky after sunset.

PHOTO: MICHAEL KAPPELER /GETTY IMAGES. ILLUSTRATION: JUSTIN DODD/MENTAL FLOSS

Catch a Partial Lunar Eclipse of the Micro Beaver Moon this November

In the early morning hours of November 19, a partial lunar eclipse will turn the micro beaver moon reddish brown.

The core sample seen in its not-yet-sealed titanium tube.

NASA’s Perseverance Rover Just Collected the First-Ever Rock Sample From Mars

More than half a year after NASA’s Mars rover, Perseverance, landed on the Red Planet, it secured its first pet rock.

The Best Telescopes and Astronomy Equipment for Beginners, According to Experts

We spoke with three experts to figure out which are the best telescopes and astronomy equipment for stargazing.

Neptune at Opposition: Don't Miss Your Chance to See the Solar System’s Most Remote Planet

Neptune is rarely visible, but on September 14, 2021, the remote planet reaches opposition, making it appear bigger and brighter than usual from Earth.

Spot Saturn, Jupiter, and a Full Blue Moon This August

A blue moon occurs shortly after the planets Jupiter and Saturn reach opposition, making August the perfect time to see the three bodies.

The Perseid Meteor Shower Will Produce Up to 100 Meteors an Hour this August

Thanks to dark skies on August 12 and 13, the reliable Perseid meteor shower will put on its best show in years in 2021.

The Strawberry Full Moon Is Coming—Here’s When to See It

June’s strawberry full moon is a great excuse to sky-gaze and a nice reminder that strawberries are in season right now.

The night sky is full of colors—except green.

Why Are There No Green Stars?

You can look up and find white, red, blue, and yellow stars, but green stars are missing from the night sky.

Don't Miss the Only Total Lunar Eclipse of 2021

A spectacular "blood moon" total lunar eclipse will be visible from North America, South America, Australia, and more on May 26, 2021.

A colorized image of sand dunes at Mars's northern polar cap.

NASA Shares Amazing Image of Blue Dunes on Mars

NASA’s Mars Odyssey has been orbiting the Red Planet for literally 20 years—here’s a glimpse of what it’s been up to.

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